Carla Gaines' fillies tested over for testosterone

DEL MAR  The California Horse Racing Board filed two complaints today against trainer Carla Gaines alleging that two horses in her care tested high for testosterone and violated CHRB rules.

The horses, A Little Luckier and Winding Way, both contained testosterone in excess of the authorized decision levels, the CHRB said. Both are Class 3 violations. Also, the University of Florida Racing Laboratory confirmed the excess levels of testosterone in the split samples. Testosterone is a naturally occurring anabolic steroid.

A Little Luckier finished second in the first race at Hollywood Park on July 14, 2012, and Winding Way won the fourth race at Del Mar on July 21, 2012.

The CHRB said hearings for Gaines, the disqualifications of the two horses and the redistribution of the purses are pending.

As reported by U-T San Diego earlier this month, CHRB commissioner Keith Brackpool said he had recused himself from the investigation of Gaines and her horses. Brackpool’s Gervinho won the fifth race at Del Mar on Sept. 3.

At the time, multiple sources reported that two of Gaines’ horses tested positive for an undisclosed substance and that her barn had been “tossed” by CHRB investigators. John Harris, who owns horses that Gaines trains, confirmed Gaines’ barn was checked by CHRB investigators.

Gaines has refused to comment on the investigation numerous times when approached by U-T San Diego.

Brackpool is chairman of the CHRB, and there had been chatter in recent weeks that Gaines was getting preferential treatment from the board because of her connections as trainer for Brackpool’s horse and horses owned by Harris, a former CHRB board member.

Brackpool addressed the item Monday in the paddock at Del Mar on Sept. 3. He was asked if he recused himself from any investigation into Gaines’ barn.

“Yes, I did recuse myself and I would expect the same from any of my fellow commissioners,” Brackpool said after Gervinho, a full 2-year-old brother to Lakerville, won the fifth race impressively his first time running. “We’re in a business where perception begets reality. So we have to have an absolute, absolute clear line that there can’t be any conflicts of that whatsoever. I have totally recused myself of any involvement whatsoever in writing, and I did so a few weeks ago.”

Brackpool explained the process that any CHRB investigation follows regarding a trainer and horses.

“The other thing that, not just in this case but any case, the process that is followed is uniform,” Brackpool said. “The process that’s followed is that every horse is tested after a win and then random horses are tested. If a horse comes back and has a positive test for something that we don’t allow, then we begin an investigation. There are then various procedures. The trainers get split samples and then finally a complaint is filed if that is the belief of the equine medical director and staff. Only at that stage does the board see that a complaint has been filed and then it goes to a hearing officer and the board adjudicates the hearing officer’s decision. It’s not a board decision to prosecute or not to prosecute somebody.

“In this particular case, I have totally recused myself, but there would be no involvement for me at this stage anyway.”